An owner of a divided condominium townhouse in Sainte-Catherine, on the South Shore, contacted our team in early June after observing black ants coming out from under the threshold bar of the front door and walking in a line along the baseboard of the hallway to the kitchen. His immediate neighbors at the compound had reported similar sightings a few weeks prior. The city of Saint-Constant, adjacent to Sainte-Catherine, regularly presents the same spring infestation dynamics in the townhouse residential complexes. Our exterminator in Sainte-Catherine responded quickly to assess the extent of the situation.
Inspection of a divided condominium in a row
In a divided co-ownership, each unit is separate legal property, but the party walls, foundation and roof are shared, creating conditions for insects to migrate between units. Inspection of the unit made it possible to locate ant tracks coming from the foundation, passing under the threshold of the front door and going up to the kitchen. The species identified was the common black ant at the beginning of the spring dispersal cycle, looking for new food sources after the queen emerged. An exterior examination revealed the presence of two nests in the joints between the concrete slabs of the deck and a third nest in the earth berm along the foundation, where moisture was accumulating at the edge of the patio. Our protocol for exterminating house ants in condominiums systematically includes an evaluation of the shared perimeter to identify all potential sources.
Shared Unit and Perimeter Processing
Treatment began with the application of gel baits along the active tracks inside the unit: under the front door threshold, along the hallway baseboard, behind the refrigerator, and under the kitchen sink. Externally, the nests in the joints of the concrete slabs were treated with a dry insecticidal powder injected directly into the spaces between the slabs. The wet earth berm was treated with a liquid insecticide and partially dewatered using draining gravel to remove the source of moisture. Barrier spray covered the entire perimeter of the unit’s foundation. With the agreement of the syndicate of co-ownership, an outdoor treatment against insects has also been extended to the perimeter of the two adjoining units to prevent the colonies from simply moving from one unit to the other without being eliminated.
Caulking and preventive repairs
The caulking of the entry points was a key step in the response. The severely deteriorated threshold seal of the front door was replaced with a new moisture-resistant brush seal. Cracks in the mortar of the foundation were sealed with a sealant suitable for concrete surfaces exposed to the weather. The electrical cable ducts through the foundation wall were sealed with expanding foam. Recommendations were sent to the owner and the syndicate of co-owners concerning the maintenance of the terraces and the management of rainwater at the edge of the building, because the persistent humidity in the joints of the slabs directly encouraged the establishment of new colonies over the seasons.
Results and follow-up with the syndicate of co-owners
A follow-up visit carried out two weeks after the treatment confirmed the disappearance of ant tracks in the treated unit and in the adjoining units included in the intervention perimeter. No active ants were observed either inside or at the previously identified entry points. The condominium association was informed of the results and integrated pest management into its annual maintenance plan for the complex. For other projects in condominium and residential contexts on the South Shore, we invite you to consult our intervention in house ants in a similar condominium. Nova Extermination offers complete pest control services in Sainte-Catherine and in all municipalities on the South Shore, with a professional approach adapted to each type of property. Whether you own a townhouse, a condo or a single-family residence, our team has the expertise and tools to eliminate house ants in the long term and prevent their return.